Let’s call the JCK show scene a quiet riot—mellower in terms of head count, but inside the booths at The Venetian Resort & Sands Expo, sparks are flying, cheeks are flushed with excitement, and spirits are off-the-charts high. Retailer-supplier reunions come with hugs and smiles—and serious, substantial transactions. Trays are overflowing with selects for immediate delivery. There is a sense of urgency. Fresh inventory is a necessity like never before. And there’s a palpable feeling of joy in the air.
“The show needed to happen,” said Sean Moore, director of sales at Omaha, Neb.–based Borsheims. “The right buyers are here, and everyone has been super positive and happy. People are buying like mad.”
For his part, Moore is focused on the bridal category and diamond fashion jewelry, and he found both at Rahaminov Diamonds. He’s also investing in the diamond brand’s new colored-stone collection, which is strong on emeralds and tourmaline.
“The energy at this show was full of gratitude and optimism. The future for our industry is as bright as it has ever been.”
—John Carter, Jack Lewis Jewelers, Bloomington, Ill.
Tiffany Bayley, owner of Avalon Park Jewelers in Orlando, Fla., likewise has color on her list of priorities.
“Walking through the door of Luxury, it was very evident to me that it’s going to be a very colorful holiday this year,” she said. “Yellow diamonds are everywhere you look. It’s going to be a yellow Christmas.” Her must-sees include Uneek, Roman & Jules by First Image Design, Bassali, and Allison-Kaufman Co., an “oldie but goodie that came out swinging really hard this year.”
Melissa Quick, president of Steve Quick Jeweler in Chicago, was on the lookout for “wow” pieces—she found some at Omi Privé and Simon G.—and geometric diamond fashion pieces under $2,500. And “for the first time in years we have people asking for emeralds,” she said, “so we bought a few emerald pieces at Dilamani, including a paper-clip chain with a bezel-set emerald for layering.”
Tommy Aucoin, president and co-owner of Aucoin Hart Jewelers in Metairie, La., said he and his team were shopping with an eye for creating multipiece color stories, mainly blue. The answer: opals and mirror-cut aquamarines from Lauren K.
“But we’re also seeing lots of fresh diamond fashion under $5,000,” he said. “Classic diamond hoops, huggies, and bangle bracelets with a little twist to them are what’s selling right now. It’s good to see that manufacturers and suppliers have been busy designing over the last year. There’s a lot of fresh inventory, and that’s what excites us.”
One such “busy” manufacturer is the New York–based KC Designs, which has debuted a tarot card–inspired collection of lockets to rave reviews. But another runaway hit at the show has been its paper-clip hoops (pictured), an evolution of the rampant paper-clip necklace trend. “It’s all about bringing a fresh, modern-day approach to the classic inside-out hoop, and it’s been very well-received with retailers,” said KC Designs director of marketing Tiffany Sabo.
Whatever you’re shopping for at JCK Las Vegas, whatever vibe you’re anticipating, the mood was summed up perfectly by Denise Richards, operations manager at Underwood Jewelers in Jacksonville, Fla.: “The energy of the show makes it obvious that Zoom is no replacement for buying and seeing jewelry in person.” Bayley agreed: “People are just happy to be here. They are happy to restock and revamp and relaunch mentally, emotionally, and physically in their stores. I think we are gearing up for a fantastic fourth quarter—it’s going to be phenomenal.”
Top: Jubilee ring in 18k white and yellow gold with 8.01 ct. oval fancy yellow diamond, 0.66 ct. t.w. pear-shape diamonds, and 0.79 ct. t.w. round diamonds, $158,895; Uneek
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